| Just hearing the word ‘Recession’ makes | | | | known as Search Engine Optimization. It is a |
| us act like ostriches, we need to stop sticking our | | | | process of developing or re-developing your hotel |
| heads in the ground and ignoring the situation. Yes, | | | | website to attract traffic by securing top ranking |
| we are facing a recession but not all is lost. The | | | | on the major search engines for selected search |
| first step is not to give into the temptation of | | | | terms and phrases. For example, your website |
| cutting back on your marketing and promotion | | | | should be optimized for brand and location |
| activities, while this may seem like a sensible | | | | searches. So, when the guest enters a location |
| course of action; it has the potential to harm your | | | | into a search engine, your website appears on the |
| business in the long term. Instead of cutting back | | | | first search page. |
| on marketing, you need use your current | | | | Don’t Ignore Your Biggest Income Source: |
| resources to boost your business. Here are 3 | | | | Return guests can be your biggest source of |
| online marketing ideas that will make surviving the | | | | income. So, while running campaigns to generate |
| recession easier: | | | | new business, don’t ignore this potential |
| Display the Best Rates on your Hotel Website: It | | | | market base. These guests are familiar with your |
| is extremely important to offer the best rates on | | | | brand and are happy with the services you offer, |
| your hotel website as travelers compare | | | | so converting them is much easier that |
| packages and rates from all sources – agents, | | | | persuading those unfamiliar with your hotel brand |
| travel websites and hotel website before making | | | | to become guests. One effective way to |
| a booking. If your third party intermediary is | | | | encourage previous guests to return is by running |
| offering your hotel room at a better price than | | | | customer loyalty programs/campaigns year round. |
| your website, you will lose sales to your own | | | | Always remember - existing guests can carry |
| agent and you will end up paying for this | | | | you through a recession and losing loyal existing |
| miscalculation in commissions. | | | | guests for the sake of new business will only cost |
| Optimization can Increase Sales: A majority of | | | | more in the end. |
| guests use search engines to look for hotel | | | | To summarize, challenging times lay ahead for the |
| accommodation online. So, you need to optimize | | | | hospitality industry, but if your website and online |
| your website, so search engines can find your | | | | presence are in order, the internet sales channel |
| website easily, thereby, making it easier for | | | | can be an area of revenue growth for your |
| guests to locate you on the internet. The process | | | | business in the upcoming year. |
| of optimizing your website for search engines is | | | | |